Give him a games console and rarely will you find a concern over consistency for Mark Duffy.

The quick-fingered Iron winger enjoys a daily dose of football's favourite game, FIFA - usually to decide whether he or Bobby Grant does the dishes at their Scunthorpe apartment.

Such is Duffy's supremecy, he says it's his flat-mate that more often than not dons the marigolds.

"He's not the best, so it's usually Bobby that ends up doing them. It's great for me," he laughs.

Now though Duffy accepts it's time to take his FIFA performances to the field.

The last two League One matches are indicative of the 25-year-old's time at Scunthorpe United.

Out of favour and on the bench during the home clash with Leyton Orient a fortnight ago, the former Liverpool youngster offered some promise for the final half-hour of an ultimately disappointing 3-2 defeat.

Yet restored to the starting line-up seven days later, at Brentford, Duffy admits he may not have made the best impression in a performance best remembered for effort rather than entertainment.

Manager Alan Knill's assessment of the flame-haired former Morecambe man's contribution at Griffin Park was predictably blunt.

"He was okay, but he could have been better," he said on the subject.

But the Iron boss holds a belief that if Duffy can produce what he has shown in flashes on a more regular basis, he has the ability to be a major weapon in his side's attacking armoury.

Knill is as honest with the players as he is to the media.

Duffy though does not need anyone to tell him what he needs to do to become a more regular figure in the Scunthorpe starting XI.

"He's quite open with the players, but I think that's probably the best way to be in any way of life," says Duffy on his manager.

"You have to work hard at everything you do and if I'm not pulling my weight, the gaffer makes it clear. That's the same with the whole squad.

"He lets you know where you stand.

"I was over the moon to be back into the starting line-up last week, but it was a tough game to go into, not the best to judge me on really.

"I don't think I played anywhere near my capability, it was one of those games where you just had to graft for the team, sit deep and try to hit them on the break.

"I know my form has been in and out and I want to be a bit more consistent.

"Sometimes at home I think we struggle to break teams down, away from home I think I've been much better.

"Maybe that's down to the way teams set up against us, but that's up to us to adapt our game to go out there and perform.

"Teams try to stop us getting the ball out wide and I like to get one v one. Sometimes you can go 15 or 20 minutes where you don't have many touches of the ball and you feel as though you're not in the game.

"The gaffer tells us not to get frustrated because it will eventually come to you, but it's hard.

"When it does, it's down to me to do something with it and maybe I haven't done that enough."

It's hard to believe Duffy is yet to complete a year at Glanford Park.

He joined the Iron from League Two side Morecambe in the January transfer window and has since played under two different managers and in two different divisions - not the best footing when you are trying to find your feet.

As well as experienceing a big learning curve on the field - he has previously admitted he found the leap from fourth to second tier difficult - life off it has also been full of upheavel.

Having played for the likes of Vauxhall Motors, Prescot Cables and Southport while working as a multi-sports coach for his local council, Duffy was able to live in his native Liverpool.

Moving to Scunthorpe has provided many new experiences, none more so than sharing a flat with Grant.

"It was a massive jump, but I thought I did okay in the Championship. It is a totally different level," he says on his time as an Iron player.

"League One is a great level too but at the same time it's not the Championship.

"When you look at some of the teams Preston, Sheffield United and Wednesday, there are some big clubs, it's a great competition. But we all want to get back up.

"I've lived here since I came and that's been a big change for me too.

"Before I've always been close to home and I like being around my family and friends, but at the same time, opportunities like I've had here don't come around that often.

"If you'd have asked me four years ago, when I was playing in the Conference, I'd have done anything to get the chances I've had.

"As soon as I learned of Scunthorpe's interest I jumped at the move.

"I would have moved to the moon to get that chance, though some might say living with Bobby is sometimes like being on the moon. He's a bit of a spaceman.

"I am settled here, but if results aren't going well you aren't happy - whatever club you're at.

"Hopefully we can turn the corner and start picking up a few more points. That will get the place buzzing again, because on the whole we are playing well."

The Iron hope that will start this afternoon, at stadium:mk, when they travel to face the sixth-placed Dons - another side against whom they would have been hoping to be jostling for league position at the start of the campaign.

With both sides keen to pass the ball around the pitch, Duffy is hopeful of holding on to his place in the starting XI and getting another chance to prove he is worthy of a first-team shirt.

"An open game on Saturday would suit me personally," he adds.

"But at the same time we've got to keep our shape and keep compact because they like to pass the ball just like we do.

"It will be an interesting game, but hopefully we can come away with three points.

"When we've played against the so-called bigger and better teams, it's more of an end to end game.

"We're confident we can beat anyone on our day, despite the results we've had so far."

If not, Duffy can at least take some solace from the fact he's unlikely to be doing the dishes anytime soon.